FREEZER SAVVY

To keep my freezer organized and find what I'm looking for, I save the plastic wrap from the meat that I purchase from the store. After wrapping the meat with aluminium foil, I re-wrap it with that plastic wrap and put everything in a clear bag. It gives me the date and the contents at a glance. It saves time and I don't have to buy labels.

TANGO WITH MANGO

Here's the receipe for my "Tango with Mango" drink:

1 Ripe Mango peeled, and cut in to small pieces*

2 Tablespoons of fine sugar (or more )

1 or 2 shot glasses of Rum or Tequila

2 Tablespoons of lime juice

Put everything in the blender with crushed ice and blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve with a slice of lime and ENJOY.

 

 

* Peel  mango first and cut the flesh  into small squares and carefully run the knife under the scored area

BABUSHKA DOLLS

I am sure you've seen these shiny, enticing Babushka dolls. They are usually made out of balsa wood. They embody five other little dolls that are hidden inside each other. They are so enticing that even the name doesn't deter you from looking at them. Babushka in Russian means grand-mother. They look like anything but a grandmother. I like these dolls for couple of reasons. One they remind me of my childhood, my uncle brought one back from his trip to Russia the other is they remind me of my interaction with people. There is much anticipation going on with these dolls, just like real life. From the outside it is just one doll, but you have to open it to get to the next one, and the next one... The outer shell is alluringly bright and you want to touch it and hold it, but what is inside??? What is the next one going to look like? Just like us. What hidden treasures do we have inside us? Does anybody bother to find out? Most of the time life connects us with the shiny outer shell and we do not go beyond that. But I like to look inside. I don't mind spending time. I like to find out. All the while I'm intrigued. It takes time and patience to get to the last one, because you have to experience the journey of finding out. It is time well spend, because you are getting to know and understand and finally you come to the end , the last piece, the last Babushka. It is just like us, we have so many layers if anybody wants to get to know us they have to see the real Babushka. Some choose not to go that deep. I choose to go deep, that's the only way I can truly say I know somebody. Once I get to know that person well, then at that point I can make an intelligent decision whether or not to continue the journey. Sometimes the journey ends there. But most of the time I find golden Babushkas to keep for a lifetime.

Happy Searches for a golden Babushka. I found many.......

LIFE IS BOWL OF CHERRIES

I don't know where the expression "Life is not a bowl of cherries" came from but I always thought, Life IS like a bowl of cherries. Cherries are one of my favorite fruits. I looked-up the Webster's dictionary and Fruit (Latin-fructus) means enjoyment. Life is just like that when we clear the clutter and prepare ourselves for the pits of life it becomes sweet and enjoyable. We make choices and it is what we make of our choices. Many people may not agree with our decisions and life choices but its ours . Just like cherries we can choose to rid ourselves of the pits and discard the stems and enjoy the sweet fleshy fruit. So enjoy life to the fullest, it is so worth it.

ONE WORLD

According to some people the world is getting smaller/closer through technology. If that is so wouldn't it be smarter to get to know who our neighbors are, where they came from, what their customs are and what we can learn from them? It is to my bewilderment that many people don't even know their next door neighbor. I know my neighbors. They are good people and I learn something every time I speak with them. They are also learning about me. We all come from somewhere and we all have something to offer to this society to our friends and neighbors even if they are not so friendly in the beginning. Some twenty two years ago when I moved into my house I waited for my neighbors to come and say hello to me. I baked cookies and was ready to make tea or coffee if anybody showed up. Well no body showed up, so I took my cookies to them. One neighbor was friendly, took the cookies and closed her door, other neighbor mentioned that she did not have anything to offer me. Well did you think these incidents deterred me?. Of course not. I invited them to my house for a barbecue. They came;I had the opportunity to get to know them better. Now when I come home, I have friends to whom I wave and say hello with warmth in my heart.

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

LETS ALL BE FRIENDS AND LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER. LET OUR HEARTS SPEAK THE TRUTH FROM OUR LIPS.

WHY MARCO PASHA

It has been told that Marco Pasha was an Ottoman Greek physician who made time to listen and find solutions for people's problems. He became so popular among the people that when there was a problem they would say "go tell it to Marco Pasha". His reputation went all the way to the palace of the Sultan and he was promoted to be the chief physician at his court.
I chose this name because I've been a good listener to my friends most of my life and I thought I could continue to do so through these pages. Talk on...